Sullivan softball player earns championship game MVP honor
•July 22, 2026•
by Jamie Crosier
Fourteen-year-old Kylie Wickline is bringing home more than a championship as she prepares for her freshman year of high school.
Wickline, who plays for the Mattoon Pride 14U SG travel softball team, was selected as the Championship Game MVP by the opposing team during the USSSA Fastball Fireworks & Freedom tournament over the Fourth of July weekend.
The recognition came after opposing coaches selected one player for the honor. Wickline said she was surprised when her name was announced.
“I didn’t think it was going to be me at first because all of my teammates did great that game,” Wickline said. “When my name was called, I was very excited and happy that everybody was supporting me when I got it.”
Read MoreBlue Dolphins earn multiple High Point honors at Firecracker Classic
•July 15, 2026•
Submitted
The Sullivan Blue Dolphins traveled to Quincy on June 27-28 for the 2026 Firecracker Classic, where swimmers competed through hot temperatures and outdoor conditions while turning in strong performances across multiple age divisions.
The team was led by six swimmers who earned High Point honors in their respective divisions, an award presented to the athlete who accumulates the most points based on individual event finishes throughout the meet.
Read MoreSullivan siblings win gold again at Taekwondo nationals
•July 8, 2026•
Austin and Annika Kelley, brother and sister from Sullivan, traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to compete in the UTA Taekwondo Nationals on Friday, June 26. They both came home National Champions in the weapons division. Annika is the UTA 2026 11-14 year old Creative Weapons National Champion and Austin is the UTA 2026 15-17 year old Traditional Weapons National Champion.
Read MoreSBD strong at CCC in Springfield
The Sullivan Blue Dolphins had a strong showing at the 2026 Capitol City Classic in Springfield, finishing 5th overall out of 14 teams. The team’s top point scorers were Emily Crosier – 204.5 points in the Girls Open Division; Mack Pogue – 208 points in the Boys 12 and Under Division; and Stella Perrott – 103 points in the Girls 10 and Under Division.
These outstanding performances, along with contributions from the entire team, helped lead the Dolphins to an impressive 5th-place finish. Next up, the Sullivan Blue Dolphins are headed to Quincy, Illinois, to compete at the SST Firecracker Classic.
LLC summer volleyball camp
•June 24, 2026•
Lake Land College is holding a summer volleyball camp for children ages 6 through high school. The camp will be held across two weeks, July 20th through 23rd and July 27th through 30th, at Emerald Acres Sports Connection, located at 1201 Woodell Way in Mattoon. The camp will give players of all skill levels the chance to develop their abilities, improve their fundamentals, and explore the game of volleyball with immersive drills and structured training. Campers will be placed into four separate groups based on age, and the camp will be divided each day into four sessions, one for each age group: 10 and under, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.; 11 years old and 6th grade, 10:15 to 11:45 a.m.; 7th and 8th grade, 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.; and High School, 2:15 to 3:45 p.m.
Read MoreDawkins places at USTA Nationals
Sylvia Dawkins, 14 of Sullivan placed 10th out of 38 competitors on her tumbling floor pass June 16 at the USTA Nationals held in Madison, WI. Sylvia is part of the tumble team at Prairie Land Power Tumbling and Trampoline in Lovington.
Archer vaults to victory
Archer McPheeters, an 8th-grade student at Okaw Valley Middle School, finished 1st in the pole vault with a vault of 9ft. 6in., at the IESA State Track and Field Finals in East Peoria held May 15th and 16th. Archer also placed 8th in the 400-meter with a time of 104.5. Archer is the daughter of Mindy and Aron McPheeters and granddaughter of Martha and Harlan Fabert.
Perrott named to All-Tournament team
Scarlett Perrott helped her club volleyball team win the Silver Division at the Central Regional Championships held in Hammond, IN while also earning herself All-tournament team recognition. The Apex 13u team, based in Decatur, IL, went 3-2 over the June 13th-14th weekend to wrap up their travel season with a win at the Hammond Sports Complex where over sixty teams from across the Midwest competed. Perrott was one of six players in the 13-and-under age group to be selected to the All-Tournament team.
Scarlet is also a member of the Sullivan Middle School Volleyball team and swims competitively. She is the daughter of Jamie and Josh Perrott of Bethany.
Shot clock details finalized at IHSA June meeting
•June 24, 2026•
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on Monday, June 15, where the Board finalized expectations for the 35-second shot clock, which will be required for varsity boys and girls basketball contests beginning with the 2026-27 IHSA season.
Read MoreIacobazzi state runner up after photo finish
•June 3, 2026•
by E. Scott England
Johnny Iacobazzi has had an amazing running career at Sullivan High School. The speedy senior has found his way to the podium in both solo events and relays at the state track meet. School records have been toppled. But this year he was chasing the 1600m state title.
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